Research Discipline/Bio
Cara Kanner is a candidate for the Doctor of Education degree in Movement Sciences. She works as an associate faculty and research physical therapist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist. She is part of the Montes Lab with research focused on individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and neurodevelopmental disorders. Her primary research focus is on bone health in SMA.
Educational Background
Doctor of Physical Therapy, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 2017
Bachelor of Science, Health Sciences, University of Miami, 2013
Honors/Awards
Teacher's College General Scholarship, 2023
NYPTA Participation Award, 2017
University of Miami Dean scholarship, 2009-2012
Semi-finalist in Siemen's Competition in Math, Science, & Technology, 2008
Publications/Exhibitions
Kanner CH, Rodriguez-Torres R, Wallach R, Bakarania P, Montes J. Therapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises for a Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Case Report. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2025;37(2):282-287. doi:10.1097/PEP.0000000000001188
Rodriguez-Torres R, Kanner CH, Gay EL, et al. Development of the SMA EFFORT: A new approach to characterize perceived physical fatigability in spinal muscular atrophy. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. 2025;12(1). doi:10.1177/22143602241313326
Sudnawa KK, Pini N, Li W, Kanner CH, Ryu J, Calamia S, Bain JM, Goldman S, Montes J, Shen Y, Chung WK. Clinical characteristics, longitudinal adaptive functioning, and association with electroencephalogram activity in PPP2R5D-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Clin Genet. 2024; 1-10. PMID: 39169681
Ziegler A, Carroll J, Bain JM, Sands TT, Fee RJ, Uher D, LeDuc C, Kanner CH, Montes J, Glass S, Douville J, Mignon L, Gleeson JG, Crooke ST, Chung WK. Antisense oligonucleotide therapy in an individual with KIF1A-associated neurological disorder. Nature Med. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03197-y
Trancho C, Stickney B, Kinirons S, Uher D, Kanner CH, Rao AK, McDermott MP, Garber CE, De Vivo DC, Montes J. Low Bone Mass in Ambulatory Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Proactive Approach for an Often Overlooked Impairment. J Clin Med. 2024; 13(5):1336.
Zreibe K, Kanner CH, Uher D, Beard G, Patterson M, Harris M, Doerger J, Calamia S, Chung WK, Montes J. Characterizing ambulatory function in children with PPP2R5D-related neurodevelopmental disorder. Gait Posture. 2024;110:77-83. PMID: 38547676
Kanner CH, Uher D, Zreibe K, Beard G, Patterson M, Harris M, Doerger J, Calamia S, Chung WK, Montes J. Validation of a modified version of the gross motor function measure in PPPR5D related neurodevelopmental disorder. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2024;19(1):45. Published 2024 Feb 7. PMID: 38326877
Last Updated: Jun 3, 2025